CAMPUS BRIEFS: Monday, February 9, 1998

Alum returns to take financial post at Penn Zimmerman -- who earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the College of Arts of and Sciences in 1981 and a master's in finance from the Wharton School four years later -- left his position as associate director of investments at the Rockefeller Foundation to return to his hometown and alma mater. Embarking on the "tremendous challenge" of shaping an investment policy for the University, Zimmerman said he will begin developing recommendations for Penn's investment board by the end of the semester. Zimmerman, 39, previously served as vice president for J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and associate director for Bear, Stearns & Co. Vice President for Finance Kathy Engebretson expressed confidence in Zimmerman's ability to manage the University's $2.5 billion endowment. Engebretson added that she was excited to see the newly-created position filled by an accomplished candidate. -- Margie Fishman UA secretary resigns In an unexpected move, Undergraduate Assembly Secretary Olivia Troye resigned her seat last week to focus on other pursuits, saying she did not want to serve as a "bad example" for other members. Troye is currently directing Quadramics' production of West Side Story -- set to run during Spring Fling in April -- and serves on the Student Activities Council's Executive Board. She was first elected to the UA in March 1996 and is a former vice chairperson of the United Minorities Council. "I don't think that I have the desire or the commitment to the organization that I used to have," the College junior said. "I should not devote my time to that." UA members -- several of whom sent Troye e-mails of support -- stood behind her decision. "I think it was very classy of her," UA Chairperson and College junior Noah Bilenker said. The UA elected College sophomore Sara Shenkan at its meeting last night to fill Troye's position until the next election in March. -- Edward Sherwin Construction on food plaza to start in March Construction on the 40th Street fresh air food plaza, the first of five that will house vendors displaced by pending proposals for regulating vending, will begin in March, University officials said last week. Jack Shannon, the University's top economic development official, said he received architectural plans for the plaza, to be built between Locust and Walnut streets, on Friday. The University will begin soliciting bids for construction shortly, Shannon said. The fresh air food plazas will provide outdoor seating for customers, as well as electrical hook-ups, sewage, water lines and improved lighting for vendors at the cost of $1 a month for five years. The five plazas will hold a total of 45 vendors. Construction on the food plazas was slated to begin in December, but Penn officials postponed their plans when the passage of a proposed vending ordinance was delayed because of a dispute between Penn and vendor and consumer groups. The plazas are separate from the ordinance proposals. Penn, the Penn Consumer Alliance and the University City Vendors Alliance have fought over appropriate regulation since May. The four other plazas are planned for behind Van Pelt Library on the 3400 block of Walnut Street; between Gimbel Gymnasium and the parking garage on the 3700 block of Walnut Street; at 34th and Spruce streets near the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; and next to Bennett Hall at 34th and Chancellor streets. -- Seth Grossman